Day 9/180: Excited to Sub

I am trying something new this year...subbing.  It is a portion of the plan to help new teachers succeed.   Part of my job as AP is to plan for staff development with a beginning teacher assistance program as a huge part of the overall plan.  In fact, I'm passionate about it.  I want to help those new to the teaching field find their voice, develop their style, and reach their full potential in the classroom, because I believe that investing in people is the absolute best use of my time.

"In the coming year, thousands of college graduates will enter the nation's classrooms to begin their teaching careers.  Most will have received high grades in the teaching methods courses and student teaching experiences.  Most will have a genuine affection for young people and will be committed to making a difference in the lives of their students.  Despite the good intentions and high expectations of these beginners, 40 to 50 percent of them will drop out of teaching within the first seven years, most within the first two years." - How to Help Beginning Teachers Succeed, page 1.

The statistics are sobering and to me they are a call to action. Though research results vary from study to study, most agree that new teachers most often need help with:

• Managing the classroom.
• Acquiring information from the school system.
• Obtaining instructional resources and materials.
• Planning, organizing, and managing instruction, as well as other professional responsibilities.
• Assessing students and evaluating student progress.
• Motivating students.
• Using effective teaching methods.
• Dealing with individual students' needs, interests, abilities, and problems.
• Communicating with colleagues.
• Adjusting to the teaching environment and role.
• Receiving emotional support.

Why sub? I covered a class so that a new teacher could go and observe a similar class.  Yes, the new teacher has a planning period, but the class that we felt would be most helpful to see was scheduled during a time when she was teaching.

So, after getting the students off to a strong start and assigning meaningful work, she went to observe someone else and I got a chance to see some of our top students in action. It was a great morning!